Fath al-Rabbani

Benefits: … To understand the meaning of this blessed hadith, a true and deep relationship with Allah Ta’ala is necessary. Please pay attention to the discussion presented below; perhaps the jurisprudence (fiqh) of this hadith will become clear.

The Noble Prophet sallallahu alayhi wa sallam himself combed his hair and also commanded that the hair be well-groomed, but he also instructed that a person should not comb his hair every day. The same applies to clothing.

The objective of the Shari’ah is that a Muslim should neither be such that he neglects bathing and grooming his hair for weeks and ultimately becomes a detestable person who does not recognize his own dignity, nor should he be such that he focuses all his attention on his outward appearance every day and at all times. For constant prosperity, comfort, and luxury also create corruption in a person’s temperament, and he becomes afflicted with pride and arrogance, and begins to despise those who are less clean or who live a simple life. Or at the very least, he is unable to appreciate the importance and benefits of simplicity.

One day, the Companions mentioned the world in the presence of the Messenger of Allah sallallahu alayhi wa sallam. He sallallahu alayhi wa sallam said: “Do you not hear? Do you not hear? Indeed, simplicity is part of faith.” (Abu Dawud: 4161)

The meaning of this hadith is that along with fine clothing, simple clothing should also be preferred, and in comparison to desirable, delicious, and various types of food, coarse and simple food should also be consumed. Because being entangled in the comforts and luxuries of the world reduces one’s focus on the Hereafter, and by avoiding affectation, one’s attention remains directed towards the Hereafter. However, it should be kept in mind that maintaining purity, cleanliness, and ritual purity (taharah) is one thing, and taking care to wear fine and expensive clothing is another. Simplicity is not the opposite of cleanliness.

Understand its second example thus: The Noble Prophet sallallahu alayhi wa sallam himself used shoes and encouraged wearing them, but he also commanded walking barefoot. Reflect on the state of a person’s emotions when wearing expensive and beautiful shoes; by walking barefoot, an attempt is made to eliminate those emotions. The following hadith will clarify this issue.

Sayyiduna Mu’adh bin Anas al-Juhani radi Allahu anhu reports that the Messenger of Allah sallallahu alayhi wa sallam said: “Whoever abandons wearing fine clothing out of humility for Allah, while he is able to wear it, Allah will call him on the Day of Resurrection before all creation and allow him to choose whichever garment of faith he wishes to wear.” (Tirmidhi, Sahihah: 718) The hadith has been presented again to clarify the point.

In this hadith, there is the virtue of humility and not showing superiority over others. By “garments of faith” is meant those high garments of Paradise which will be worn only by the people of faith.

If the following ahadith are considered, the points related to simplicity can be easily understood:

Sayyiduna Abu Ayyub radi Allahu anhu reports: “The Prophet sallallahu alayhi wa sallam used to ride a donkey, mend his own sandals, and patch his own shirt, and he would say: ‘Whoever turns away from my Sunnah is not from me.’” (al-Sahihah: 2130, also narrated by Abu Shaykh: 128, and al-Sahmi in Tarikh Jurjan: 315)

Sayyiduna Abu Hurairah radi Allahu anhu reports that the Messenger of Allah sallallahu alayhi wa sallam said: “He is not arrogant who eats with his servant, rides a donkey in the markets, and ties up the leg of a goat and milks it.” (al-Sahihah: 2218, al-Bukhari in al-Adab al-Mufrad: 550, and al-Daylami: 4/33)

Some people have been observed to feel humiliated in lifting something in front of others, or in doing some work, or in serving someone of lower status, or in using a humble means of transport. This is precisely the temperament that the Shari’ah seeks to crush, and it is for this purpose that the above ahadith have been mentioned.